Blue-White weekend features more than just football: 8 other Centre County events

While thousands of Nittany Lions fans are set to descend on Beaver Stadium for Penn State’s Blue-White Practice this weekend, a different kind of hustle and bustle is taking over the rest of Centre County, in the form of several other events.

From a unique, Johannes Sebastian Bach-themed concert, to a plant sale, 5K race and two-mile walk and more, this weekend’s calendar offers events for nearly any type of interest, and we’ve highlighted eight of them below. To see full calendar listings, visit www.centredaily.com/events.

State College Alliance Church ‘FoodPack’ Event

Where: State College Alliance Church, 1221 W. Whitehall Road, Ferguson Township

When: 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 24; and 9-11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25

What: At the church’s “FoodPack” event, volunteers will pack shelf-stable, rice-based meals called “MannaPacks” that are distributed to those in need across the world. The goal for the event is to pack more than 139,000 meals, which is estimated to feed over 380 children one hot meal a day for a year.

Volunteers are still being accepted for the event, along with monetary donations. To volunteer or provide a donation, visit www.scalliancechurch.com/foodpack and click the “register/donate here” link. More than 40 time slots were still available as of early Friday afternoon.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie concert

Where: Bryce Jordan Center, 720 Curtin Road, University Park

When: 8 p.m., Friday, April 24

What: For fans of rap music, tickets are still available for A Boogie wit da Hoodie’s Bryce Jordan Center concert Friday. The event marks the rapper’s second time in State College, with his first concert taking place in September 2023.

Tickets for the concert start $44.25, and doors open at 7 p.m.

Annual Native Plant Sale

Where: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, 3400 Discovery Road, Petersburg

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 25

What: The Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center will hold its annual native plant sale on Saturday, featuring “at least 30” species of native herbaceous plants, for both sun and shade, sourced from The Garden in Centre Hall and in partnership with the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State.

While the event has an official end time of 3 p.m., the sale will end early if all plants are sold out. No pre-registration is required to attend.

41st Annual Port Matilda Children’s Fishing Derby

Where: Port Matilda Community Park, 335 Park Street, Port Matilda

When: Noon to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, April 26

What: For those looking to get out into nature this weekend — or those who have a child who enjoys getting out into nature — then the Port Matilda Children’s Fishing Derby is for you.

The event is for any child 15 years old or younger, and children will be divided into five age groups — 4 through 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12; and 13 through 15. Prizes will be awarded to the three longest fish in each age group. Food will also be available to purchase.

Registration for the event starts are noon and runs until 1 p.m. The fishing will commence immediately after registration closes, and will last until 4 p.m. The awards ceremony will begin soon after, and is expected to last until 4:30 p.m.

Outdoor Industry Expo

Where: Tussey Mountain’s ski lodge and beer garden, 301 Bear Meadows Road, Boalsburg

When: 2-6 p.m., Sunday, April 26

What: Hosted by the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania, this inaugural expo is the first part of a three-day event spanning from Sunday, April 26 to Tuesday, April 28 that aims to teach people how “visionaries, innovators and leaders across the outdoor recreation world” come together to bolster the commonwealth’s outdoor economy.

Starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, visitors to the expo will be able to enjoy outdoor business exhibits, demonstrations for adults and children alike, live music, beer and food trucks. Monday and Tuesday’s portion of the event requires an already-closed preregistration.

Penn State’s Essence of Joy choral ensemble

Where: Esber Recital Hall, along Allen Road, University Park

When: 6:30-8 p.m., Sunday, April 26

What: The Penn State School of Music’s Essence of Joy choral ensemble will present a concert titled “Total Praise: Richard Smallwood in Conversation with J.S. Bach” Sunday.

According to a press release from the school of music, Essence of Joy will bring together two “towering” voices in historic music — Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Smallwood — in a program that “reimagines the boundaries of the traditional canon.”

Concert-goers will hear Bach’s “Christ lag in Todesbanden,” interwoven with gospel works composed by Smallwood, including “Total Praise,” “Anthem of Praise,” “Angels,” “Don’t Cry” and “Bless the Lord.”

Tickets for the concert are available on Ticketmaster and start at $16.50 for adults, and $9 for Penn State students that can provide a valid Penn State ID.

Wild Wellness Festival and Market

Where: The Arboretum at Penn State, University Park

When: Noon-5 p.m., Sunday, April 26

What: The community is invited to explore the benefits of movement, art and wellness in the natural surroundings of the Arboretum at Penn State during the Wild Wellness Festival and Market Sunday.

Event-goers will be able to enjoy a combination of free children’s programming, paid wellness activities for adults ages 18 and above and an outdoor market with food trucks and more than 15 vendors.

While the children’s programming is free, the adult wellness activities cost $10 per person for a 1-hour class, $20 for a 2-hour class and $40 for a full-day pass. Some of the wellness activities include botany 101, herbal first aid, mindful nature journaling, rope making, yoga and more.

For more information about the event, and to register for the wellness activities, visit the Arboretum’s event website.

17th annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Walk/Run

Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park

When: 10:30 a.m. Sunday

What: Hosted by Special Olympics Pennsylvania, the 17th annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run is taking place this Sunday, and is perfect for those who are looking to get a bit of physical activity in this weekend — and for a good cause.

Participants of all ages will be able to choose between a 5K run or two-mile walk, but regardless of which you choose, you’ll start the race outside Beaver Stadium, follow a course that takes runners/walkers through Penn State’s campus, and finish the race by going through the stadium’s tunnel, ending at the 50-yard line of the Nittany Lions’ home turf.

Proceeds from the run will help underwrite the cost of participation for nearly 2,000 athletes at the 2026 SOPA Summer Games, which Penn State hosts in June. Since the run’s inception in 2010, more than $4 million has been raised.

Registration for the event begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning at Medlar Field, 112 Medlar Field, and runs until 10:15 a.m., when the opening ceremony begins. Registration for the 5K run and walk can also be carried out online, with a registration fee of $40 — or $20 if you’re a Penn State student.

After the 10:30 a.m. opening ceremony, the 5K run will begin at 11 a.m., and the walk will step off at 11:10 a.m. The racecourse will be closed at noon, and awards will be handed out at 12:15 p.m.

For more information about the race, including a map of the course, parking details and how volunteer or donate with the Special Olympics in the future, visit specialolympicspa.org/beaver-stadium-run.